Mykola Mondrayev, a farmer in eastern Ukraine, prepares for drone attacks with minimal defense while managing his farm. The rural lifestyle is endangered as a quarter of farmland is occupied by Russia, and contamination from mines complicates farming operations. While agriculture was a major sector pre-war, contributing significantly to the economy and employment, the ongoing conflict has led to a severe shortage of agricultural labor due to conscription. Military restrictions further hinder farming efforts, posing an existential threat to Ukraine’s agrarian heritage.
The Russians aren't just hitting military objects. They're hitting farms as well. Farming is at the heart of Ukraine culture, and that's what they are trying to destroy.
On the steppes beyond Sumy, a rural way of life is under threat from the complex set of challenges that war has brought. A quarter of the country's farmland is under Russian occupation.
Before Russia's full-scale invasion, agriculture was one of the fastest-growing sectors in Ukraine, contributing 10.9% of GDP and providing 17% of domestic employment in 2021.
There are no workers for the farms. Almost everyone has been conscripted. A military restriction zone forbids farmers in the immediate vicinity of the frontline from working on their land.
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